Dear Caregivers,
Useful tips from Alzheimer
Support @SandyAlz.
When my Mom had Alzheimer’s, Sundowners Syndrome could
make bedtime a nightmare.
Late evening was a dreaded time for my Mom. Some
evenings she would fall asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. But, more
often than not she would begin to cry only hours before bedtime.
A gentle weeping at first would turn into a very sad,
groan then escalate to a loud sobbing wail that filled the house.
It didn’t happen every night, but it happened often
enough to ask the doctor if there was something wrong and what on earth could I
do.
Some antidepressants cause anxiety and irritation and
keep them awake rather than help them to sleep. Mom seldom took more than a
mild antidepressant at night as we hoped for a sound and restful sleep.
Despite all our efforts, several nights a week, Sundowners Syndrome haunted Mom. Her wailing cry was unnerving. It almost
sounded like someone in horrific emotional pain. If you’ve ever heard a mother
weeps from the death of a child, that is exactly how my Mom sounded on many
nights. She wouldn’t walk or flail, but sit on the side of the bed and weep
into the darkness.
Mom took a light medication to help her sleep, but
remained alert during the day. Most often, she had really good days. It was only the evening hours that brought
nightmares while she was wide awake.
A few things I did
find to help during those Sundowners Syndrome Nights:
·
Keep the last meal of the day fairly early, usually
before 5 pm.
·
Take an afternoon walk, so Mom would be ready to
settle down.
·
No naps during the day, as that prevented sleep at
night.
·
For an hour or so before bed time, Mom would wind down
from her daily activity.
·
She’d be drowsy and perfectly happy to go to bed with
a little warm milk.
Sometimes these small activities would do the trick
and she’d sleep soundly.
Though no one really
knows for sure what causes it, Sundowners is common among those with dementia.
Some behaviours
during Sundowners include: shouting, wandering, expressing fear, sadness,
crying and anxiety.
Since the cause of Sundowners is unknown, many think
it might have something to do with the body’s natural cycle or Circadian
Rhythms (natural sleep/wake cycle). The longer they’ve had dementia, the deeper
is their confusion. It seems to occur as
they begin to sleep more and stay awake less.
A few other recommendations
I’ve learned since my Mom passed away 7 years ago are:
· Shadows seem to bring them a lot of fear, so try for a
well-lit atmosphere as much as possible.
· Make sure they get lots of exercise during the day, so
sleep-time comes more naturally.
· Keep caffeinated beverages or foods to a minimum as
they too can keep them awake.
· Playing soft music also helps them to stay asleep and
if they need to get up for bathroom time in the middle of the night, be certain
the bathroom is well-lit.
· Touch-base with their doctor. Let them know about the
issue and ask for suggestions, perhaps a light sedative or check on the
medications they are already taking, could one of them been keeping them awake?
All the best to those caring for someone with Sundowners
Syndrome. If you find something that helps or would like to share something
you’ve learned. We’d love to hear from you.
(Source: Alzheimer Support @SandyAlz)
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